At Love To Dream™, we know how important a healthy sleep routine is for the whole family. Learning how to self-soothe is a fundamental milestone for your little one, and our new Self-Soothing Toys are designed to help you along the way.
Created with the expertise of Senior Occupational Therapist Emily Saunderson, Lyric The Fox™ and Stevie The Bunny™ are designed to help little ones learn to self-soothe as well as cater to two types of sensory preferences. Even if your child doesn’t show signs of a strong sensory preference, the Self-Soothing Buddies will provide comfort and reassurance in a variety of situations.
From why self-soothing is so important to some of the different types of sensory preferences to be aware of, learn more about the support you can offer your child below.
What is self-soothing?
Self-soothing is an essential, often automatic ability that is part of a process of self-regulation. It refers to the way an individual is able to regulate their level of alertness and emotions in response to the incoming sensory information and activity coming in from the world around them.
Self-soothing provides comfort for little ones and helps them to calm themselves as necessary to navigate their way through the world. It’s important to keep in mind that every individual has different needs so what works for one child, might not work for another and equally, what works in one moment might not always work in another.
All babies and little ones can learn to self-soothe with the right guidance and support - and that’s where we come in.
Watch the video below to find out more!
How is sensory development linked to self-soothing?
Our sensory systems enable us to engage and interact with the world through sight, touch, taste, smell, and sound along with internal senses of body position and movement - and we know these types of stimuli can help promote self-soothing.
Sensory development starts in utero and continues to develop throughout childhood, with the most transformative stage occurring between 0-7 years. Comforters such as pacifiers, teethers, blankets, movement and toys are common ways parents encourage their children to self-soothe.
Check out our chart below to discover how your little one's sensory preferences can develop and change. It’s important to remember that children can have multiple sensory preferences and their preferences will change throughout the day depending on the situation and environment.
What are some of the different sensory types?
To encourage your little one to self-soothe and develop self-regulating behaviours and patterns, you need to be aware of their evolving sensory preferences. Today, we’re going to talk about two sensory preferences.
Check out our chart below to discover how your little one's sensory preferences can develop and change. It’s important to remember that children can have multiple sensory preferences and their preferences will change throughout the day depending on the situation and environment.
Introducing Our New Self-Soothing Toys
At Love To Dream™, we understand that every child is different. Children need the aid of movement, touch, sound or visual senses to help self-regulate. Designed for two sensory types, our Self-Soothing Toys will encourage your little one to learn how to self-regulate through innovative sensory cues.
Working alongside a senior occupational therapist who works with children with sensory processing challenges, we have created innovative Self-Soothing Toys that will act as a buddy for your little one. Depending on how your child is feeling and their needs at different times of the day, you might want to alternate between the toys.
Watch the video below to find out more!
FAQ'S
For additional information and questions please read below:
Please check out our other blogs on self soothing below:
How To Teach A Baby To Self-Settle and Self-Soothe
Sensory 101: Exploring Sensory Development and The Different Sensory Needs
Our Self-Soothing Toys have been created under the guidance of Emily Saunderson, Senior Occupational Therapist and Director of Kickstart Kids Therapy. They are designed to support your child on their self-soothing journey and can be used at different times of the day, depending on the situation and their sensory needs.
There are lots of different sensory preferences, and these preferences can change throughout the day depending on your child. Our Self-Soothing Toys have been designed to help your child to regulate their alertness and emotional state for two types of sensory preferences: those who need more sensation and those who need less sensation. In turn, this will help your child to meet their sensory needs whether that’s to feel calm at times and alert in other moments.
For example, if your child feels overstimulated by bright lights or loud noises and is not yet comfortable with large amounts of stimulation, Stevie The Bunny™ can be used as a supportive tool to help calm and soothe themselves when necessary. If they actively seek colour, movement, touch, or sound, Lyric The Fox™ is designed to provide more stimulation and engagement in those moments.
Please note that our Self-Soothing Toys are not designed for sleep. Never leave your child unattended with the toy, and never place in the cot, bassinet, or pram before sleep.
To learn more about our new Self-Soothing Toys, please visit our blog
The new Love To Dream Self-Soothing Toys are designed with different sensory needs in mind while other products on the market seem to be one size fits all. We all have different sensory preferences, so it’s important that this is considered from a young age to help little ones master the skill of self-soothing.
The Love To Dream Self-Soothing Toys have enhanced sensory features to assist children and parents/caregivers with learning this process.
Everyone has different sensory preferences, so what works for one child, may not work for another child, and similarly what might work in one moment for a child, may not work in a different moment. The important thing to remember is that it can be a process of trial and error to discover what works for your child at different times of the day.
For example, some children might enjoy holding a cuddly toy if they’re transitioning to a new place, or if it’s loud and busy, but once comfortable, settled and engaged in play, they might not need their toy.
Self-soothing is part of a process of learning to self-regulate which can take children time to acquire. The Love To Dream Self-Soothing Toys are designed to assist you and your child on this journey with a practical buddy that you can use in different places and situations. While the type of sensation that these toys offer is designed to facilitate self-soothing, it may not be appropriate for every child.
Our Self-Soothing Toys are designed for ages 0+ under supervision and have been safely tested to meet the relevant safety standards. Remove all packaging before giving to a child. Never place in your child’s cot, bassinet, or pram before sleep. Always follow safe sleep guidelines from Red Nose Australia, First Candle US and Lullaby Trust or the relevant leading safer sleep organisations in your country.
Our Self-Soothing Toys are not designed for sleep. Never leave your child unattended with the toy and never place in the cot, bassinet, or pram before sleep.
Please find care instructions for our Self-Soothing Toys below:
- Cold hand wash.
- Do not bleach, soak, or rub.
- Do not iron or dry clean.
- Dry thoroughly before reuse or storage.
Our Self-Soothing Toys are gently weighted with plastic beads and polyester fibre filling. To prevent the beads escaping, they have been encased in a separate machine-stitched bag inside the belly of the toy.
Our Self-Soothing Toys are gently weighted with plastic beads and polyester fibre filling. To prevent the beads from escaping, the beads have been encased in a separate machine-stitched bag inside the belly of the toy.
Dispose of the toy immediately if it is damaged or the filling can be removed. If your child gets the filling in their mouth, remove immediately. If your child swallows the filling, seek medical assistance.
- Remove all packaging before giving the toy to a child.
- Never place the toy in your child’s cot, bassinet, or pram before sleep.
- Always use the toy under adult supervision. Never leave your child unattended with the toy.
- Dispose of the toy immediately if the filling can be removed.
- If your child gets the filling in their mouth, remove immediately. If your child swallows the filling, seek medical assistance.
- Always follow the care instructions provided.
For more information, please visit Red Nose Australia, the leading authority on safe sleep.